Family Systems Theory and Child Development

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Family Systems Theory and Child Development

• EDCI 331
• September 8, 2003

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Ecological Systems Theory

• Uri Bronfenbrenner
• Microsystem
• Mesosystem
• Exosystem
• Macrosystem
• Chronosystem

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Ecological Systems Theory

• Like a set of nesting toys

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Microsystem

• Closest to the child
• Direct contact with child
• Family
• School
• Childcare
• Neighborhood
• Church

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Microsystem

• Relationships are bi-directional
• Both toward and away from child
• Interaction between structures is Key

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Mesosystem

• Connection between structures in Microsystem
• Teacher------Parents
• Neighborhood----Church

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Exosystem

• Larger social system
• Parents workplace
• Child does not interact directly with this system
• There is interaction between structures in
  childs microsystem
• These interactions do impact child

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Macrosystem

• Outermost layer in childs environment
• Cultural values
• Laws
• Social policy

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Chronosystem

• Dimension of time as it relates to childs
  environments
• Timing of events
• Aging of child

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• How does the world that surrounds a child help
  or hinder continued development?

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• Increased work demands
• People (both parents)
• Time spent at work
• Stress
• Deficit model
• Increased emphasis/dependence on economy

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Relating Ecological Theory to other developmental
models

• Piaget
• Sensorimotor---Microcosm
• Preoperational---More of Mesosystem
• due to development of language
• OperationalExosystem/Macrosystem

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Attachment Theory

• Sensitive responding by parent results in secure
  attachment
• Lack of sensitive responding results in insecure
  attachment
• Avoidant
• Resistant/Ambivalent

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Attachment Theory

• Secure
• Seeks contact or greets from distance with
  smile/wave
• Avoidant
• Avoids parent
• Resistant/ambibalent
• Passive or active hostility toward parent

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Social Cognitive Theory

• Triadic, dynamic, reciprocal interaction of
  environment, personal factors, behavior
• 1.Person-Behavior interaction
• Thoughts, beliefs etc influence behavior
• 2.Environment-Personal Characteristics
• Individual expectations, beliefs, competencies
  developed/modified by social influences/physical
  structures in environment

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Social Cognitive Theory

• 3.Behavior-Environment
• Behavior determines environment
• Environment modifies behavior

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Implications for us???

• Children come from wide variety of family systems
  and are a product of the family they are a part
  of
• We must be able to understand many systems in
  order to relate to our students

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Divorce

• Work with your partner to identify how divorce
  relates to Ecological Systems Theory, Social
  Cognitive Theory, or Attachment Theory